Topband: Current 160 operation and conditions solstice 2022

[Bob Kile]

Jim pointed out in earlier post the usefulness of grey line propagation 
on bands 30m and down. 160m grey line peaks can be huge at times.

The EU window of propagation closed in early March this year with my 
last good shot on March 8th. This was a month earlier than in previous 
two years. By mid April most norther hemisphere operation ceased outside 
of the serious die hard folks. This does not mean all is lost, read on.

Mornings in the western USA are really the only reprieve from the solar 
and Geo magnetic activity. We also have a slight advantage of decreasing 
seasonal QRN as the sun moves west.

Some Central American and south American activity is still there and 
possible with the summer QRN levels here but hard to find due to time 
zones and their focus on eastern directions EU and Africa.

Out west the sunrise activity is somewhat limited but there is a fair 
number of stations active in VK and ZL with a sprinkle elsewhere. The 
following are active on a regular basis to keep band alive. JA1LZR keeps 
Japan on the map in the sunrise hours.3D2AG, VK3IO, VK6GX, VK2WF, VK6LW, 
VK3HJ and ZL1AZ all have good seats in the down under group.

To fix all the broken stuff or make improvements in your station as a 
measure of performance you can check RBN stations to evaluate your 
system performance. KH6LC, NH6V, VK4CT and 5W1SA are decent performers. 
Most JA RBN stations are noise limited and often I get no report 
whatsoever even though stations report I have good signal throughout JA 
land. All said some great 10,000 paths are available to those early 
risers to the higher latitudes in the Southern hemisphere.

A QSO with 7Q5RU is quite possible from the west coast during this 
period....Just say'n


73

Bob W7RH

-- 
W7RH DM35OJ


If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin